Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Apply

ATTENTION SNAP HOUSEHOLDS
CHANGES TO NOVEMBER 1, 2013 BENEFITS

Why are my benefits changing?

Your benefits will change because a law called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) raised SNAP benefits to help people affected by the recession and the part of the law that raised SNAP benefits is ending October 31, 2013.

When are my benefits changing?

On November 1, your benefits will go down due to the end of the extra benefits provided by the 2009 law.

How much are my benefits going down on November 1, 2013?

Your benefits depend on many things like income, household size and expenses. So it is hard to say exactly how your benefits will change. If you live in a household of 4 and nothing else changes, your benefit would go down $36.

SNAP CUT BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE BEGINNING NOVEMBER 2013

HouseholdSize

ARRA Maximum Benefits ThroughOctober 2013

Maximum Benefits Beginning November 2013

MONTHLYCUT

1

$200

$189

$11

2

$367

$347

$20

3

$526

$497

$29

4

$668

$632

$36

5

$793

$750

$43

6

$952

$900

$52

7

$1,052

$995

$57

8

$1,202

$1,137

$65

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program:

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps) helps low-income people and families buy the food they need
for good health.

SNAP Eligibility:

To determine if you are eligible to receive SNAP benefits we suggest using the Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool below.

PLEASE NOTE:
This Pre-Screening Tool is NOT an application for SNAP or a guarantee of eligibility for benefits. Your eligibility will be determined by the
Welfare Office after processing your application and the eligibility & interview process.

IMPORTANT: You must answer all questions completely and honestly. Food stamp fraud is a serious crime and carries with it serious potential
penalties. A person may be charged with a felony at the state and/or federal level for food stamp fraud. In most states, a felony conviction carries a
possible term of incarceration (jail or prison) of at least a year or more. In addition,
conviction of food stamp fraud will prevent the offender from receiving food stamp benefits in the future, even if he or she is otherwise eligible.

If your household has little or no money and needs help right away; inform the Welfare Office and you
may be eligible to receive SNAP benefits within 7 business days.

After you have submitted your application you will be scheduled an interview. At your interview your case worker will explain the program rules and assist you in
completing your application if necessary. During the interview process your case worker will also ask you for proof of certain information. It's important that
you understand the rules, so don't hesitate to ask your case worker to explain anything you don't understand.

After you have completed the interview, the Welfare Office will notify you by mail of your qualification status, and if approved
the monthly amount of SNAP benefits you will receive and the how many months of benefits you are qualified for before you need to reapply.

If you are qualified for SNAP benefits, you will receive your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card with your
monthly approved benefit amount no later than 30 business days from the date the office received your application.

If you and everyone you live with are applying for or getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits,
you may apply for SNAP benefits at your Social Security district office, except in California (where people
who receive SSI get cash instead of SNAP benefits).

Households applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid can apply for SNAP benefits at the same time.